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Underrated Bands/Artists

5K views 50 replies 19 participants last post by  Almadacr 
#1 ·
I'm curious what I've missed out on, and want to share a few I've found over the years.

Savatage (members created what is now TSO, or Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Rainbow
Giant
Hall & Oates
Joe Lynn Turner
Queen
Rush (sometimes hit or miss, like the Stones)
Scorpions
Talisman/Jeff Scott Soto
Talking Heads
Tesla
Triumph
UFO

I'm sure there are plenty I have missed. Help me out :T
 
#5 ·
Rush for sure. They're probably the best band to come down from Canada.

Jack White is another artist who has enjoyed some critical success but, other than his stint with the white stripes, hasn't really been recognized fully for his genus. Raconteurs and his solo project are, IMHO, better expressions of him as an artist.
Switch and the Spur: http://youtu.be/YpV2g3w75wM
Broken Boy Soldier: http://youtu.be/-x5skzfGp-s
I'm Shaking: http://youtu.be/XkcGuZHPbKk

I'm going to add 2Pac to under ratted artists. While most people will agree his lifestyle was questionable and he was no roll model, hi lyrics were inspired and real like poetry.

Another wordsmith most people have never heard of is Saul Williams. This man is a true poet. He was one of the stars of Slam the documentary film. He has at least three albums out internationally, one produced and guest staring Trent Rezner of NIN.
Black Stacy:http://youtu.be/kRsgavuG4sg
Skin of a Drum: http://youtu.be/wvlSqUjpWns
 
#7 ·
Maybe my viewpoint is a little skewed. I work with people mostly between the ages of 18-25

It's all I can do to get them to turn off Katy Perry and Lil' Wayne

Most of these kids have never heard of Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, let alone Nina Simone. To say nothing of actually hearing Floyd or Rush.
 
#14 ·
Thanks for the suggestions Rab-Byte! I've not heard of some of those artists before.

I grew up in the 70's and 80's, and mostly listen to rock, but I like new things (to me anyway). I do not enjoy most newer music, so a thread like this helps me find new material!

The Talking Heads sound like they would be a blast live, with all of the percussion playing
The Scorpions have dozens of original albums, quite a diverse collection over the decades
Saw Tesla live twice: great show in a small venue
 
#18 ·
I consider some bands underrated because they:

currently don't receive airplay, even on classic rock stations
have an extensive body of work that includes great songs that never received airplay
have intangible 'value', or or meaningful influence

I am hoping to find some artists that HTS members share that I'm unfamiliar with. I had a friend years ago that I shared Savatage with me and I often find myself listening to their albums, which I now possess myself.
 
#19 ·
currently don't receive airplay, even on classic rock stations
have an extensive body of work that includes great songs that never received airplay
have intangible 'value', or or meaningful influence.
Talked to my friend about this today. Too many "singles", pushed out of the way by too many more. The craft of song building is lost nowadays. It's hard to find value, meaningful influence, etc, when most new songs on the radio are into the chorus in less than 14 seconds. I think there are a lot of underrated bands that get overlooked because "it takes too long" to listen to a song. ...where is that skip button anyway?
 
#20 ·
Skip button? It is called presets on my car stereo and before my current stereo with a flash drive, I couldn't go anywhere without hovering over the buttons while driving. I think my last stereo's preset buttons failed :whistling:
 
#23 ·
When I drove cross-country over a summer, living out of my truck, I brought two cases of CD's, maybe 150 of them. I was scared of losing them, but couldn't be without them for all summer. Now, I am elated that I can travel with only a $30 flash drive with all of my music.

Another great singer, the best singer ever for Black Sabbath imo, was the deceased Ronnie James Dio. His vocals were amazing. Some people did not like his dark material, but he was an amazing vocalist; imo, soaring over Ozzy Osborne as a singer or frontman, for that matter. No disrespect to bat-eaters :blink:
 
#34 ·
Have to speak up for Todd Rundgren:
  • 20+ studio albums
  • many on which he performed all instruments and vocals
  • produced Meatloaf, Grand Funk Railroad, Hall & Oats, The Band, Badfinger, Cheap Trick, XTC, many more (over 40 albums produced)
  • innovative musically and technically
I have been following him since the eary 70s. You may not know his name but you probably listen to music that was influenced by him.
 
#40 ·
You guys forgot another band from Canada Triumph

I saw UFO a few months back and Michael Schenker was unbelievable ! I've been on a Scorpions kick ever since.

I'm hoping Queensryche gets up to Milwaukee , they are playing all the old stuff with the new singer. Be careful to see the right band . Geoff Tate is also still using the name.......:thumbsdown:

Savatage was really good ! Check out Circle 2 Circle .
 
#43 ·
I am not sure Rush and Queen can be considered underrated. I agree with Rainbow and Savatage. Also early Scorpions is very underrated.

I am a metalhead and to me Overkill are really underrated. They've released 14 or 15 albums and none of them I would consider to be mediocre/bad.
 
#44 ·
I am not sure Rush and Queen can be considered underrated. I agree with Rainbow and Savatage. Also early Scorpions is very underrated. I am a metalhead and to me Overkill are really underrated. They've released 14 or 15 albums and none of them I would consider to be mediocre/bad.
Rush and queen definitely not overrated. Savatage underrated. Rainbow, meh. Loved overkill growin up. The singer is an acquired taste, but the music rips.
 
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